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Medved: Interblue Wants Talks on Terminating Contract by End of 2009

Bratislava, December 3 (TASR) - Shady American company the Interblue Group, which bought Slovakia's carbon-dioxide emission quotas in 2008, wants to hold negotiations with the Slovak Environment Ministry concerning the termination of a mutual contract by the end of this year, Environment Minister Jozef Medved announced at a press conference on Thursday. According to Medved,… read more

Government Withdraws Proposal to Strengthen Judicial Council

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - The Slovak Government on Wednesday withdrew its amending proposal for the Act on Judges at the behest of Prime Minister Robert Fico and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak. The amendment had been prepared by former justice minister Stefan Harabin (LS-HZDS), who is now Supreme Court Chairman. The amendment was in second reading in April, and… read more

Mere 11 MPs Present to Discuss Initiatives on Property Declarations

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - A mere 11 legislators, including Parliamentary Vice-chair Anna Belousovova, were present in the House towards the end of the session on Wednesday. "We have politicians, public officials, who are contemptuous of the public interest," said independent MP Gabor Gal in the near-empty House amid discussion regarding an amendment to the Constitutional… read more

SMK Criticises Government\'s Measures to Implement Language Act

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - The Slovak ethnic-Hungarian SMK party said on Wednesday that it doesn't like measures proposed by the Culture Ministry to implement the State Language Act. The Government proposal has been submitted for comments to ministries. SMK, however, says the measures tend to complicate the situation rather than solve the problems associated with… read more

ECOFIN Launches Excessive Deficit Procedure Against Slovakia

Brussels/Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - The EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) on Wednesday officially opened excessive deficit procedures against nine EU member countries, including Slovakia, TASR learnt later in the day. Finance ministers of EU member countries also issued recommendations for the nine states concerned and set deadlines for when corrections… read more

Slovakia Brings Focus on Issue of Energy Security at OSCE Session

Athens/Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - Slovakia succeeded on Wednesday in highlighting energy security at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Athens, with attendees of the ministerial session approving a decision on strengthening energy security as brought forward by Slovakia, Greece and the U.S.A. Spokesman for the Slovak Foreign… read more

EU Commission Approves State Aid for Volkswagen Slovakia

Brussels, December 2 (TASR) - The European Commission on Wednesday authorised Slovakia to provide Volkswagen Slovakia with state aid of €14.3 million in the form of tax relief - a motion that will be aimed at transformation of the Bratislava branch. According to the Commission, the move is in accordance with the EU rules on state aid and won't lead to undue distortion… read more

Miklos: Strategic Enterprises Act Threatens Many Thousands of Jobs

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - The Strategic Enterprises Act is a bad law that seriously harms the Slovak economy as it creates an unstable and risky environment for investors, SDKU-DS vice-chairman Ivan Miklos said on Wednesday in reaction to the Government's decision to include the chemicals-maker Novacke Chemicke Zavody (NCHZ) among the group of strategic enterprises.… read more

Miklos: Not First Time State Land Fund Managers Have Been Dismissed

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - Six out of seven members of the Slovak Land Fund (SPF) managerial board that were dismissed by the Government on Wednesday due to revelations of a dubious land transfer in the High Tatras have been dismissed from the SPF management before in the past, SDKU-DS vice-chairman Ivan Miklos told a press conference on the same day. SME daily informed… read more

Lajcak: Number of Slovak Soldiers in Afghanistan to Go Up by Hundreds

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - The involvement of Slovakia's army in Afghanistan will increase by hundreds of soldiers, Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak said on Wednesday. "It's been said that we'll increase our presence considerably or even double it," he added. "It's too early to speak about precise figures at the moment, as this is up to the Defence… read more

Jahnatek: State Shouldn\'t Manage NCHZ for Long

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek said on Wednesday that the state should not manage the chemical-maker Novacke Chemicke Zavody (NCHZ), now undergoing bankruptcy, long-term. He said that the company should be restructured so it can "stand on its own", and then be sold via a public tender. The Government at its meeting approved Jahnatek's… read more

Pregnant Woman Who Died Monday Was First Victim of A(H1N1) Virus

Banska Bystrica, December 2 (TASR) - According to an autopsy, the cause of death of a 33-year-old pregnant woman who died Monday in Banska Bystrica was the A(H1N1) flu virus, TASR was told by Banska Bystrica regional Public Health Office (RUVZ) spokesperson Maria Tolnayova on Wednesday. "The woman was taken to hospital in the 32nd week of pregnancy due to a virus and… read more

Government to Provide Taiwanese Investor With Millions in Support

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - A new investor from Taiwan expected in Trencin should be given financial state support reaching €5.32 million within ten days, the Government approved on Wednesday. According to Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek, the state support for AU Optronics Corporation should reach 20 percent of the total investment. The Finance Ministry… read more

State Aid for Mortgage Debts Backed by 11 Banks

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - A group of 11 banks from the Slovak Banking Association (SBA) have signed up for the state assistance programme for people who have lost their jobs due to the global economic crisis and aren't able to pay their mortgages, it was announced on Wednesday. The banks have completed negotiations with a specialised state body created for this… read more

Fico to Lead Slovak Delegation at Copenhagen Summit, Replacing Medved

Bratislava, December 2 (TASR) - The Slovak delegation at the United Nation Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December will be led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, the Government decided on Wednesday. The delegation was initially supposed to be led by Environment Minister Jozef Medved, but as the state representatives may sign a new declaration (to replace the currently… read more